South Africa's star batsman AB de Villiers on Wednesday announced his surprise retirement from international cricket after a glittering 14-year career playing for the Proteas.

De Villiers, 34, won fans around the world for mixing traditional and unorthodox shots, as well as his fast scoring and ability to hit the ball to all parts of the ground.

He holds the world record for the fastest half-century (16 balls), hundred (31 balls) and 150 (64 balls) in ODIs, and is one of the few batsmen to top the Test and 50-over rankings at the same time.

‘I have decided to retire from all international cricket with immediate effect,’ he said in a statement.

‘After 114 Test matches, 228 ODIs and 78 T20 Internationals, it is time for others to take over. I have had my turn, and to be honest, I am tired.’

The middle-order batsman -- popularly known simply as ‘AB’ -- said it had taken him a long time to make the ‘tough’ decision and that he decided to quit while still playing ‘decent cricket’.

‘It would not be right for me to pick and choose where, when and in what format I play for the Proteas. For me, in the green and gold, it must be everything or nothing,’ he said.

De Villiers added he had no plans to play overseas but would continue in league competitions, saying: ‘It's not about earning more somewhere else, it's about running out of gas.’

England captain Joe Root hailed his ‘freakish’ achievements.

‘He has had a wonderful career, done freakish things in the game across three formats and he has been a great servant to South Africa,’ Root said speaking in London.

- 'Genuinely special talent' -

De Villiers retired with a Test average of 50.66 and as the fourth-highest run-scorer for South Africa with 8,765 runs, with 22 100s.

In limited overs, he finished as the number-two ranked batsman in the world and as the second highest run-scorer behind Jacques Kallis with 9,577 runs at an average of 53.50.

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson said De Villiers was ‘one of cricket's great entertainers and a genuinely special and instinctive talent.’

‘Time and time again he has left cricket fans around the world marvelling at his feats with the bat and in the field.’

Among his many records, ‘AB’ was the only wicketkeeper to score a century and make at least 10 dismissals in the same Test, against Pakistan at Johannesburg in 2013.

‘AB is one of the all-time greats of South African cricket who has thrilled spectators around the world with his sheer brilliance, coupled to his ability to innovate and take modern day batting... to new levels,’ said Cricket South Africa (CSA) president Chris Nenzani.

‘He is going to be greatly missed wherever international cricket is played.’

CSA chief executive Thabang Moroe said De Villiers' decision ahead of the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales was disappointing but respected.

‘AB has been a colossus on the world stage for well over a decade,’ he said.

‘His ability to improvise has made him known as Mr. 360 degrees in white ball cricket and we will never ever forget those remarkable innings that earned him the fastest 50. 100 and 150 in ODI cricket.’